Child retainer for car seats



April 7, 1953 H. A. FRANZ 2,633,906

' CHILD RETAINER' FOR CAR SEATS Filed May '17, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Hay/7 A. Franz INVHVTOR.

A TTOR/VE) April 7, 1953 H. A. FRANZ 2,533,905

CHILD RETAINER FOR CAR SEATS Filed May 17, 1951 2' SHEETS-SHEET 2 Huyb A. Franz INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1 953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,633,906 emu) RETAINER FOB can SEATS Hugh A. Franz, Houston, Tex. Application May 17, 1951, serial No. 226,880

. 1 3 This invention relates to a child retainer for car 'seats and the like, and more particularly to a device for retaining and protecting a child while in a car seat either in a sitting or standing position.

Usually, a chi1d,'up to the age of about three, rides in the front seat of an automobile beside the driver and often is unattended. Whether attended or not the child is in the most dangerous position in the car; Statistics have shown that the passenger in the right-hand front seat is subjected to at least four chances of suffering injury or death to the driver's one chance. The chief reason for this is that the driver has the steering wheel to restrain his displacement in the event of an accident, whereas his companion has nothing between him and the windshield, the dash with its sharp edges and knobs. Thus a child riding in this part of the car is still in a very dangerous position even though attended.

In'view of this serious problem a number of devices for protecting children under these cir-. cumstances have been offered. While these devices possess merit they have not solved the problem adequately. One major disadvantage common to allknown such devices is that they confine the child to such a great extent asto materially affect the comfort of the child. Another drawback is that the devices are unnecessarily complicated in construction and operation. These disadvantages limit the application of the devices and seriously lessen their utility and practicality. object of this invention is to provide 'a child retainer for car seats and the like. A further object is to provide a device which retains and protectsa child in a car seat while sitting and also while standing. A'still further object is toprovide such a device in which the child isrelatively unconfined although safely retained, said device being further characterized by simplicity in construction and operation, by possessing utility" to a hi'gh degree, and by being foldable when not in use to a very compact unit occupying very little space. These and other objects will be apparent from therdescription of this invention given hereinafter. v i

A preferred embodiment of the present invention now will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals are" used to indicate identical parts. Referring-to, the drawings generally: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the device attached to a car seat.

Figure 2 is nd elevation of the device or no Figural.

9 Claims. (Cl; 155189) Figure 3 is an isometric view of the device of 7 Figures 2 and 3 in a folded position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged isometric view showing certain details of the invention.

Figure 5 is a side elevation showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a side elevation showing certain alternatives of the deviceof Figure 5.

Figure '7 is an isometric view of an accessory which is quite useful in combination with the device of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and particularly Figures 1-4, the vertical metal bars I rest against the seat back 2 of an automobile as shown. To the upper ends of each of the vertical bars is pivotally attached, e. g. by means of a rivet3', a hook-like metalbar 4 which is practically an inverted U. These hooks 4 pass over the top ofthe seat back and extend downwardly along the rear of the seat back and hold the vertical bars I against the seat back and up above the seat cushion 5.

A substantially semi-circular bar member 6 is pivotally and adjustably attached at each end thereof to, the upper portion of the vertica1 bars I. Another substantially semi-circular bar member l'is pivotally and, adjustably attachedat each end thereof to the lower portion of the verticalbars-l.

To each end of bar members 6 and I is fixedly attached a plate 8. Ifhese four plates 8 serve several purposes. Bar members 6 and I are pivot-'- ally and adjustably attached to the Verticalbars I by means e; g. of lock nuts 9 and bolts Iflpassing through openings II in the plates and any of the adjustment openings l2 desired along the vertical bars I As the bar members 6 and (are pivoted downwardly toward the seat cushion 5, their downward movement is stopped by their ends abutting against the vertical bars I, andin this normal in-use position the bar member .5 and i extend from the vertical bars I at approximately right angles thereto. Preferably the nuts 9 are tightened enough so that the friction between plates 8 and vertical bars I is sufficient to retain bar members 6 and I when not in use in an upright position against the front of the seat back 2. If desired, particularly for storing and shipping,'bar members 6 and 1 may be locked in this upright position and for this purpose there is provided openings 13 in i the plates 8. Thedis'tance between the plate openings H and i3 is the sameas the distance between the openings/l2 inthevertical-bars l. A's an alternative or supplementary meansifo'r-retaining bar membars 6 and 1 in "said upright -position,- the upper free portions of plates 8 may be bent slightly inwardly, the amount of the bend gradually increasing from the back end to the front end of the plate so that as bar members 6 and I are raised toward the seat back, plates 8 become progressively more binding on the vertical bars I.

Desirably the device according to the preferred embodiment of this invention above described is made of bar material in order to facilitate the fabrication thereof, however it will be understood that it can be made of rods or other shapes of materials by making obvious modifications in the manufacture thereof. Also it will be noted that the device according to this embodiment comprises essentially six parts, namely the two hook-s 4, the two vertical bars I, and the two sernhcirwlar rod members 6- and I.

The advantage of this particular embodiment of this invention, in addition to simplicity of fabricatiaa. s that t i h ghly ad ust-ais e :teysu st a y ed the hserhhetherimnertant advanta e is it: can h r adi f lded f handling, s i p and s ems vi s willrhe no ed from the ereeeihe deserin ien and hem Fi u 3, t e i e isle s. 1th; a hat ehieet ee hp ih very little spaee? Th heehsi e si hward -ah h members t nd? ie hpasaih tthe v ti l ba Qi: ee hs heee iee ai e b shipp dis sseih leet A seeend hheht si this.;. hveht eh;will now he ies hihesiw th eiehee is th d awin s:

.Bei hhihste the dre ihas sh i particula ts iehs a the ertiee m t is I 4 est seihs iheasea hee s 2 9i eut me ile a s ewh- A th r hhhe en s he r els re ben i t a he s shape whiehis hheet esih ah h erted it These h elss l e the tee Q? he ea ck nd ehtehd se h es lv e ehs th se r the sea hash aha h ld he r iea re s es h s t e s at heels she a e e h e t eheh eh 5-,

The lower portion of the vertical rods are bent in o. a e r d hehe (Pre erab semi-s m la .iheh hel it The Ye -he l. r ds t a e ent so that the se h i eh a member t is termed she sat hds ir ih the. v r iee ertieh hi he re s at ahhreshhete a ri h h'a e she i shee e hh= har l a e i, th sea ehsh eh 5- Thus it will'be seen that the portion of; the eevieese esie erihe iaee rd hs t9 thi emhed h'e they be made-ea ly h ns a si e red by best!" h esthe I I a s her se'; e r h ar red ie h e 7 s taehed 'et ee ehel theseeft u per p io at th ve tieal eds. I nd es ehds' r s-whee out e e the s at eheh e an s hleh su s antia y para el to th plane n wh' eh sa fi st reel mer a 631s d shesed his re m mber H ma e fiseei e tseh d t verties rods 14, a by eld 3 e hes fsstehihe heshs bu hreiesa ly i s heth i e elly ehd edihsta lyatte hee th ret as shewh- De ireb th hi h reqhiem e is ttached is t e er ie reels '4 (F re y subs antial y he. ame m an as the e rr h d hs hhheh has 6 a ta es t erres eneihs rti alf ass l thishr heeeiehhslr eeeh ehe ei se mem er I is ih eh h s. to term se a i lr hat e har hehtieh. I8 (Fishes ts p ate: 8 t eheet 17 2s Pla e ha .twe ee hihss i and It and. the ert al. re s. It hav a numb t @417 i stmeht. ehehihss 1?:- The u er red member l ishelel P ace at d sir d peiht a ehs. the vertical. e s'by. l ek huts land olts. It hich has hzthehsehe e iha I, iheplatesnd she. 9 the eneh hgs L2. the er ical; r ds; t

The semi-circular rod member I! may be held in an upright position against the back of the seat by fastening said member I! to the vertical rods I t through the front opening I3 of the plate 8 and any of the openings I2 which index with said plate opening. Thus the plates 8 in this embodiment of this invention serve the same purpose and function in the same manner as in the fi t m odi ent ri e h r h efor The device of this invention according to the above described second embodiment thereof consists essentially of two main parts, namely the red forming the upper semi-circular member I! and the rod forming the hooks I 5, vertical members I6 and lower semi-circular member I6. While from the standpoint of fabrication it is preferred that this second embodiment of this invention be made from rod material, it is not necessary. In the event a bar or similar form is i is des r b e a ave t e s s z f e or dt ime si of, the eef d-he the h l in Order o: pro e. g eater Pr ection, There ore i a single ar ig e. 6) s su itut f r themed forming the hooks I5, side elements or vertical d It and s m -ei u r ed ember the u i e er, dd t o e n e t as he, red is er he oe s nd wer semi ei eu ar member lsea, is also twisted at these bends as s n in. rde t at the a a or id h o th b io m he h ee s and.i e s mheireulsr m m r i he aea t he se n faeihs he pecti e The upp r s mi-ei eula bar member corresponding to bar member 6 F u e 2 of the firs e od me t he of pref: ehs wil e atta hed, is t e er ical ar 1M; in the same manner as bar member 6 is attached to vertical ha rs v I.

This invention of course is not limited to the use of any particular type of material or shape of material. Metal plastic, or other suitable type at ri l i the f mer r s, a s p es or th rms m h di e ise he n on s not l mi d is the con ou f t memb rs 6, t nd 11- Th ca t of aid mbers may nrm o t o an rch e s U e th r d si d eeniemr, hi t preie ahi the eehtour is substan; tiali sem -ehi h sh Althehgh n t e sential; a adde hreteetien t s ,h e sedate had the heehs land 1 and the. erh reh hl r' memhersfi. e en Thisrhzsy eaeeehlhli he shows b cove ing hem ith a rubber tubing I9 or the like. Alternatively;, they may e seve ed with .thhhlar eehse. er foa ubber ass h e and i desired he nad i h he eeveh dwith leathere t or a tic- Wh le. the ch ld is taridhie, the: semi ire ia ie hhers are the ho izonta positi n hewh ihfieihre la l the lower emi-ehehlsr memb r Pa ses. he fhehtpi the .ehildsat .M' .i hheesahdahd t e up ersheh member passes. sre hii he firnt. e th h l between i s. wai t ah arm i s. Whi e the ch d s a s ng posit. the h aer mi-.circh er e fielded back a ain the c seat hiehre .2 .?m .-l lewer se hi e e lsr mem er passes around the front of thegllllfl about the eigh oiits. ws stlme- Wh e. he us eiwe sehihe rehlar members i prefer ed, h ehethah tw r e lyeheam he -1 Wheh rising one s ch member i aim iu te ne h r etiesle eme t I, lite-adapt it to t e t hd hs t sittihsh it en f;- he child as needed. If only on eihiwt ihvhllhr member sh hla be emplo ed; bracing th f sh whi eh be necessary to hold said vertical elemenisih e 25intheseat..., v i

The device of the present invention safely retains the child andv at the same time does not Idesired'predetermined distance apart. However,

the bottom of the vertical elements land M,

which strap extends downwardlyalong the seat back and between the seat back and cushion and has a ball attached toits free end.

'In' experimental use of the device of this vention it has been found somewhat desirable in certain instances to provide a means of seating thechild inthe device at a high. levelfin order that it may look out of the car while being safely retained in a seated position. This is very the seat bottom is made of two layers of cloth 2| and stiff member 22 such as a plastic sheet removably inserted therebetween inorder that the stiff member may beremoved when the seat is laundered. The stiff member may be removably secured between the two layers of cloth, e. g. by sewing together alledges of the two layers except the edge thereof at the back 23 of the suspended III searand inserting the stiff member between the v two layers at this open edge, which open edge is provided with snap-on tabs 24 or a zipper (not shown)..to hold the stiff member in place. The childs legs of course pass through the openings bind him to give, him the uncomfortable feeling ;of being tied in. The child has complete freedom While the device of this invention has been 7 1 described in particular with reference to its use in an automobile seat, it is equally applicable for use in railway cars, airplanes, or other vehicles or places where its use is needed. q

This application is a continuation of my application serial Number 134,810, filed September 14, 1950, and entitled Child Retainer for Car Seats.

As many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A child retainer and protector of the character described, which comprises two substantially rigid side elements in a fixed and spaced-apart relationship to extend vertically along the front of a seat back, hook-like means at the upper ends of said side elements to extend over the top of the seat back and to hold the said side elements against the front of the seat back and in an upwardly spaced relation to the seat cushion, said hook-like means being adapted to extend for a substantial distance down along the back of the seat back and to fit snugly thereagainst, at

'2. A child retainer and protector of least two arch sha'ped members of rigid material attached at each end thereof to the side elements, one ofsuch members being attached to the upper portion-of the side elements and adapted to .extend forwardly from the seat back above the seat cushion in asubstantially horizontal plane, another of such members being attached to the lower portion of the side elements and adapted being pivotallyattached .to said side elements whereby when the user is sitting said upper member. may be folded back in a vertical out of use position and when the "user is standing said upper member may be folded down in a horizontal position to aid in' retaining the user.

the character described, which comprises two substantially rigid side elements in a fixed and spacedap'art'relationship to extend vertically along the front. of a seat back, hock-like .means at the upper ends of said side elements to-extend over the top of the seat back and to hold the side elements against the front of the seat back and in an upwardly spaced relation to the seat cushion, said hook-like means being adapted to extend for a substantial distance down along the back of the seat back and to fit snugly thereagainst, an arch-shaped member of rigid material attached at each end thereof to the upper portion of the side elements and adapted to extend forwardly from the seat back above the seat cushion in a substantially horizontal plane, -a

second such arch-shaped member of rigid material attached at each end thereof to the lower portion of the side elements and adapted to extend forwardly from the seat back above the seat cushion in a plane substantially parallel to'the plane in which said first member is disposed, at least the upper arch-shaped member being pivotally attached to said side elements whereby when the user is sitting said upper member may be folded back in a vertical out of use position and when the user is standing said upper member may be folded down in a horizontal position to aid in retaining the user.

3. A child retainer and protector of the character described, which comprises two rods in' a fixed and spaced-apart substantially parallel relationship to extend vertically along the front of a seat back, the upper portion of said rods terminating to form inverted U-shaped hooks to extend downwardly over the top and back of the seat back and hold the vertical portion of the rods against the front of the seat back and in an upwardly spaced relation to the seat cushion,.

said hooks being adapted to extend for a substantial distance down along the back of the seat back and to fit snugly thereagainst, the lower portion of said rods converging to form a substantially semi-circular member adapted to project above the seat cushion in a substantially horizontal plane, a second similar substantially semi-circular rod member pivotally attached at each end thereof near the upper termini of the vertical portion of said rods whereby when the user is sitting said upper member may be folded back in a vertical out of use position and when the user is standing said upper member may be folded down in a horizontal position to aid in retaining the user, means for stopping said second semi-circular rod member when pivoted into a plane substantially parallel to the horizontal ifially: rigid-side elementsin afixed. and gspaced- .a-partzrelationshiprtoiextendmertically. alongthe front of a seat. back,..hookelike.meanspivotally attached at the 'upperzends,ofnsaid .side. elements to:..extend..:over the top of :the-seatlback and hold. said .sideelements against .the' front ofthe I -seatmback-..and .in an upwardly spaced relation tothe seat. cushion, .said hooks being adaptedto extend for a substantial distance down along-the hacknf. .the .seat...back. and. to. fit snugly there.- .against, an arch-shaped member. ..of .rigid ma- ;terials-pivotally ettachedxat. each end thereof. .to the. "upper portion; of. -said .side ....elements. and adapted ,to, .extend..-forwardly from the. seat. back ahoverl. the .;seat. cushion :in azsubstantially horizontal plane; a. secondasuch. arch-ashamed member v.of :iigidmaterialepivntally attaehedat. each; end thereoftothe.lower'pontion of said sidelelements vandadapted .to. .extend ;forwardly from the seat back above the seatcush-ion. a. plane substanv'tially 1 parallel :to '.the ;..plane .-.in..which 1 said first member is disposed.

. :7; A child retainer .and..protector of .the. class desmslbed, whiclrnomprisestwo :lbars .in -a. and :spacedeapart substantially parallel relationshintmextend. verticallyalonethe :front. .of a

seat ..bacls....inyeitted .U.:Shflpe.;h0.0kS. pill/011211112211 techedat the :npner. ends 0t saidhars to. extend wzerthe tonof :theseat back and hQld said. bars against-i the iront .oifthe :.seat':balck'-;and::lnt an upwardly spacedrelationztogthe. seat cushion. said hooks being adapted to extend fora-substantial :.;distamie edownzalone :ithezba'cki of the seat back.;and.:to-: fit snugly;thereagainst;.a:;suhstantially semis-cire'ularmember:ofrisid material piyotally. :attached'sat each end thereof :to :the upper-pnrtiomof said:bars and adapted-:to-extend forwardly fromztheLseat: hack BLbDltGiJfihB seat cushion malsubstantiallyhorizontal plane,;asec- .ondsuch.substantiallyr'semiicircular member ;of rigid material i'pivotel'lwattachedet each. end thereof to the-slower portion of:;sai'd:bars:;and adapted to-...extend?forward1y' from the: seat back above-the :seat.:cnshion :inauplaneisnhstantially-parallel .to .;the :plene inwvhich said first member: .is T. disposed. :means for stopping. :said 'semieciizcnlar.;;members'r:when pleated-into .sald planes.

. .8; The device .of- .-.cla'im;:7.;; .in whichqmeans :is provided forzadjustine said .semiecireulartinembers alon 'saidzbars :to.-;extendlat various heights from;..the seat ICL'lShj-ODI 9.. The device :ofselaim :7, .in whichesaid :hooks .andusemiecircnlar members are :padded and in which 'means. provided. to. retain. said semi- :circnlar members when. not'in use -i-nnncnpright positionzadiacent therfnontnf the seat .back'.

A. FRANZ.

REFERENCES ICITED The following referenees are of'recordin the file of "this patent:

UNITED S$ATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,039,6 47 Carter Sept. 24; 1912 1,680,794 Lawler "Aug. '14, 1923 2,359,599 Allen Oct; 3, 194 2 2,509,103 Lewis- May'- 23, 1950 2,546,790 Shook Mar. 27, 1951 2,557,556 Morris June 1 9, 1951 2,571,823 "J'Bonk Oct." 16, 1951 

